Car testing - Revision history

Duplode: /* Flat track top speed */ thinko

2024-10-13T01:24:36Z

Flat track top speed: thinko

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:24, 13 October 2024
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	=== Flat track top speed ===		=== Flat track top speed ===

	The easiest way to get a car to its flat track top speed usually is accelerating for a few minutes on a long, fully banked track, taking care to skid as little as possible on the banked corners. That is best done by driving in a counterclockwise direction, to take advantage of left corner bias in game versions that have it. Once it becomes clear there is no more speed to be gained, the test can be ended by releasing the accelerator (to avoid gaining speed by jump boosting) and crashing the car against the outside wall of the banking; the ~~impact~~ speed from the evaluation screen can thus be used as the test result. A few cars have an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overdrive_(mechanics) overdrive] final gear which doesn't actually bring extra speed on a flat track; if that looks plausible for the car being tested, it is a good idea to check the flat track top speed at the gear below the top one.		The easiest way to get a car to its flat track top speed usually is accelerating for a few minutes on a long, fully banked track, taking care to skid as little as possible on the banked corners. That is best done by driving in a counterclockwise direction, to take advantage of left corner bias in game versions that have it. Once it becomes clear there is no more speed to be gained, the test can be ended by releasing the accelerator (to avoid gaining speed by jump boosting) and crashing the car against the outside wall of the banking; the top speed from the evaluation screen can thus be used as the test result. A few cars have an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overdrive_(mechanics) overdrive] final gear which doesn't actually bring extra speed on a flat track; if that looks plausible for the car being tested, it is a good idea to check the flat track top speed at the gear below the top one.

	==== Flex-PG and anti-PG ====		==== Flex-PG and anti-PG ====

Duplode: Proving Grounds; adding category

2024-10-12T23:21:49Z

Proving Grounds; adding category

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:21, 13 October 2024
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	For centre line tick markers, the standard [[OWOOT]] checking camera angle (F3 camera, default zoom, directly overhead, centred with three rightward clicks from the default) works well enough as a reproducible angle for verification. If less convenient markers, such as trackside objects, ever have to be used, a smaller zoom might be necessary.		For centre line tick markers, the standard [[OWOOT]] checking camera angle (F3 camera, default zoom, directly overhead, centred with three rightward clicks from the default) works well enough as a reproducible angle for verification. If less convenient markers, such as trackside objects, ever have to be used, a smaller zoom might be necessary.

			== Proving Grounds ==

			[[Duplode]]'s ''Proving Grounds'' track, which [https://scr.stunts.hu/files/misc/PROVING.TRK can be downloaded from Southern Cross], provides facilities for performing the tests described above, as indicated in this track map:

			[[image:Proving-grounds-basic-tests.png\|661px\|float\|center\|thumb\|Green: acceleration and dragstrip. Red: flat track top speed (oval). Blue: flat track top speed (fast grass). Yellow: real top speed.]]

			[[Category:Driving]]

Duplode: /* Dragstrip testing */ Default hill and camera angles

2024-10-12T22:16:17Z

Dragstrip testing: Default hill and camera angles

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:16, 13 October 2024
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	Specifically for the half mile test, the nose of the car reaching the first block of a slalom on the 13th tile offers a very good approximation as well. The time at the frame immediately before the crash usually matches the result of the "2nd tick" half mile test described above.		Specifically for the half mile test, the nose of the car reaching the first block of a slalom on the 13th tile offers a very good approximation as well. The time at the frame immediately before the crash usually matches the result of the "2nd tick" half mile test described above.

			=== Default hill ===

			A different kind of standard distance for dragstrip testing is the one from the start point to the hill at [[Default]], usually measured with the end marker being the nose of the car reaching the foot of the hill. This test has the advantages of requiring no preparation whatsoever to carry out, and of the results being easy to relate to for a Stunts racer. The foot of the hill comes at the end of the 5th tile (as before, not counting the start tile). The distance covered is approximately 1160 ft, which is a little less than a quarter mile (1320 ft).

			=== Camera angles ===

			For centre line tick markers, the standard [[OWOOT]] checking camera angle (F3 camera, default zoom, directly overhead, centred with three rightward clicks from the default) works well enough as a reproducible angle for verification. If less convenient markers, such as trackside objects, ever have to be used, a smaller zoom might be necessary.

Duplode: /* Dragstrip testing */ Centre line measurement

2024-10-12T04:25:20Z

Dragstrip testing: Centre line measurement

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 == Dragstrip testing ==
-When it comes to driving procedures, dragstrip tests (that is, finding the time to cover a specific distance out of a standstill) are simpler to carry out than top speed or acceleration ones: just accelerate from the start (usually on auto gears, as in an acceleration test) on a long enough straight and check how long it takes to reach the desired distance. The trickiest part is setting a good enough reference point for measuring the distance from the start. In particular, given that a tile amounts to 204.8 feet (see [[Car model physics#Length|the relevant section of the Car Model Physics article]]), tiles are a rather coarse unit of measurement for reproducing standard distances from real world tests, such as a quarter mile or a half mile. For measuring such distances accurately, in principle we need to account for:
+As far as driving procedures go, dragstrip tests (that is, finding the time to cover a specific distance out of a standstill) are simpler to carry out than top speed or acceleration ones: just accelerate from the start (usually on auto gears, as in an acceleration test) on a long enough straight and check how long it takes to reach the desired distance. The trickiest part is setting a good enough visual marker for measuring the distance from the start. Given that a tile amounts to 204.8 feet (see [[Car model physics#Length|the relevant section of the Car Model Physics article]]), tiles are a rather coarse unit of measurement for reproducing standard distances from real world tests, such as a quarter mile or a half mile. For measuring such distances accurately, we need to, at least in principle, account for:
-* The distance covered by the car within the start/finish tile at the beginning of the test [...]
+* The distance covered by the car within the start/finish tile at the beginning of the test, which is exactly 722 graphical points (measured by the center of the car);

Duplode: Dragstrip (first paragraph)

2024-10-10T09:23:25Z

Dragstrip (first paragraph)

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:23, 10 October 2024
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	Acceleration tests are usually done with auto gears, to avoid the shifting technique of the tester to influence the result.		Acceleration tests are usually done with auto gears, to avoid the shifting technique of the tester to influence the result.

			== Dragstrip testing ==

			When it comes to driving procedures, dragstrip tests (that is, finding the time to cover a specific distance out of a standstill) are simpler to carry out than top speed or acceleration ones: just accelerate from the start (usually on auto gears, as in an acceleration test) on a long enough straight and check how long it takes to reach the desired distance. The trickiest part is setting a good enough reference point for measuring the distance from the start. In particular, given that a tile amounts to 204.8 feet (see [[Car model physics#Length\|the relevant section of the Car Model Physics article]]), tiles are a rather coarse unit of measurement for reproducing standard distances from real world tests, such as a quarter mile or a half mile. For measuring such distances accurately, in principle we need to account for:

			* The distance covered by the car within the start/finish tile at the beginning of the test [...]

Duplode: Acceleration tests

2024-10-05T02:27:35Z

Acceleration tests

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:27, 5 October 2024
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	The real top speed is quite a bit easier to find in a test: just accelerate through a long stretch of track with many jumps, without releasing the accelerator while on air, and crash or sink the car at the end. To make landing impacts more predictable, it is a good idea to use longer jump distances in the latter parts of the test track. The only needed precautions are releasing the accelerator while climbing ramps (but not in mid-air!) with anti-PG cars, and keeping an eye for landing slowdowns on cars susceptible to them (such as the [[Nissan Skyline]]).		The real top speed is quite a bit easier to find in a test: just accelerate through a long stretch of track with many jumps, without releasing the accelerator while on air, and crash or sink the car at the end. To make landing impacts more predictable, it is a good idea to use longer jump distances in the latter parts of the test track. The only needed precautions are releasing the accelerator while climbing ramps (but not in mid-air!) with anti-PG cars, and keeping an eye for landing slowdowns on cars susceptible to them (such as the [[Nissan Skyline]]).

			== Acceleration ==

			Tests such as 0-60 mph and 0-100 mph can be done efficiently with any car on a long flooded straight which begins at the start/finish tile. For instance, to find the time until 100 mph, accelerate from the start until you sense (for instance, by looking at the speedometer) that 100 mph has been reached. At that point, pause the replay, note the time, then continue ''without'' accelerating and throw the car into the water. Then, look at the reported top speed on the evaluation screen, and:

			* If it is below 100 mph, rewind to the frame at which you had paused, continue the replay while accelerating, and try again a little later;

			* If it is above 100 mph, rewind the tape to a little before the frame at which you had paused it, and try again;

			* If it is exactly 100 mph, rewind and retry frame by frame until it goes below 100 mph. The next frame after that, which is the first one at 100 mph, corresponds to the time to 100 mph.

			Acceleration tests are usually done with auto gears, to avoid the shifting technique of the tester to influence the result.

Duplode: Created page with "This article presents in-game methods for obtaining accurate performance stats of Stunts cars. While several relevant stats can be predicted from the car parameters or obt..."

2024-10-03T03:53:29Z

Created page with "This article presents in-game methods for obtaining accurate performance stats of Stunts cars. While several relevant stats can be predicted from the car parameters or obt..."

New page

This article presents in-game methods for obtaining accurate performance stats of Stunts cars. While several relevant stats can be predicted from the [[car parameters]] or obtained by processing [[repldump]] output, carrying out tests within the game is often faster than such analytical methods — not to mention more fun!

== Top speed ==

Two different, equally important notions of top speed apply to Stunts cars. The '''flat track top speed''' is the speed the car can achieve by accelerating on a long enough straight, with no jumps or obstacles. It corresponds to the top speed of real cars, and is limited not only by the torque curve and gear ratios, but also by aerodynamic drag. However, jump boosting and [[powergear]], in [[Game versions#Comparison of game versions|game versions having such effects]], allow Stunts cars to overcome the limit imposed by drag and reach their '''real top speed'''.

=== Flat track top speed ===

The easiest way to get a car to its flat track top speed usually is accelerating for a few minutes on a long, fully banked track, taking care to skid as little as possible on the banked corners. That is best done by driving in a counterclockwise direction, to take advantage of left corner bias in game versions that have it. Once it becomes clear there is no more speed to be gained, the test can be ended by releasing the accelerator (to avoid gaining speed by jump boosting) and crashing the car against the outside wall of the banking; the impact speed from the evaluation screen can thus be used as the test result. A few cars have an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overdrive_(mechanics) overdrive] final gear which doesn't actually bring extra speed on a flat track; if that looks plausible for the car being tested, it is a good idea to check the flat track top speed at the gear below the top one.

==== Flex-PG and anti-PG ====

The banked track method doesn't work well for flexible powergear and anti-powergear cars, as, once they get close enough to their flat track top speed, the slightest vertical movement on the banked road will trigger flex-PG or anti-PG, compromising the test result. An alternative method for such cars is using a very large square of [[fast grass]] as a completely flat "track". 24 x 24 tiles should suffice for most cars, assuming there is enough fast grass area inside of the corners of the square. To minimise skidding, it is recommended to drive smoothly on a circular trajectory, using as much of the width of the "track" as possible.

=== Real top speed ===

The real top speed is quite a bit easier to find in a test: just accelerate through a long stretch of track with many jumps, without releasing the accelerator while on air, and crash or sink the car at the end. To make landing impacts more predictable, it is a good idea to use longer jump distances in the latter parts of the test track. The only needed precautions are releasing the accelerator while climbing ramps (but not in mid-air!) with anti-PG cars, and keeping an eye for landing slowdowns on cars susceptible to them (such as the [[Nissan Skyline]]).